Improvement in breech-loading ordnance



W. F. GOODWIN. BBEEGH LOADING ORDNANG-E.

Patented June 14, 186 1.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM F. eoonwnv,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF POWHATAN, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADiNG OFLDNAN-CE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0.43,l i 1, dated June 14, 1864.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. Goonwnv, of Powhatan, in the county of Belmont and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Breech-Loading Ordnance; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1-is a plan of a cannon illustrating 'my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view thereof,

with the swinging yoke removed. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same, with the yoke applied. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the breech. Fig. 5 isa perspective view of a portion of the yoke.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention consists in a novel method of applying the yoke or breech-piece, whereby a secure attachment is provided with reduced weight, as will be hereinafter fully explained. In order that others skilled in the art to which my invention appertaiiis may be enabled to fully understand and use the same, I will. proceed to describe its construction and operation.

In the accompanying drawings, A may rep-- termination of the cheeks A are formed circzilar projections G' (J, between which and the cheeks a a are left annular grooves c c." On the ends of the arms b b of the yoke Bare formed enlargements 1; b which are provided with flanges d d and concave recesses b,

To apply the yoke B to the gun, its arms ,b b may be placed over the gunat a point in front of the projections G G, and then moved backward in-proper position until the flanges d (I enter the grooves c c.

1 D represents the breechplug, which is securely retained in the breech by the yoke .3 while the gun is being discharged. The yoke may be turned aside out of contact with the breech by any suitable device.

0 represents the vent, which may extend through the yoke B and cascabel E, as shown. The manner above described of applying the yoke or breech-piece adapts the same to be operated with great facility,and this means of attachment, beside obviating the necessity of attaching the arms of the yoke to the trunnions, materially reduces the quantity of metal necessary in the projections on the breech of the gun. For these reasons the presentinventiou is preferable for field and siege guns, in which itis desirable to avoid unnecessary weight of metal.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'

1. The swinging. yoke or breech-piece B, provided with arms 0 b and concave recesses b' b, fitting over the convex ends of cylindrical or partially-cylindrical projections (l0. substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The flanges d d, fitting in annular grooves c c in the projections O O, for preventing the spreading of the arms;

WM. F. GOODWIN.

Witnesses I O'omvrus KNIGHT, CHARLES D. SMITH. 

